1500 русских и 1500 английских идиом, фразеологизмов и устойчивых словосочетаний - [14]
наступать на пятки (кому-л.)
to be hard on someone’s heels
Our competitors are hard on our heels – we must improve our design.находить общий язык (с кем-л.)
to find common ground (with someone )
The two sides seem unable to find any common ground.начинать с нуля
to start from scratch; to start from square one
My sister moved to another town where she had to start from scratch.
We lost all our clients and had to start again from square one.не ахти какой
nothing to write home about
The film was nothing to write home about.не бог весть что
no great shakes; not much cop
His girlfriend is no great shakes.
The book wasn’t much cop.не в духе
out of sorts; out of humour
I’ve been feeling tired and a little out of sorts.
William is out of humour this morning. He has been shouting at everybody.не в курсе дела
out of the picture
The whole plan is a secret and she wants to keep everybody out of the picture.не в своей тарелке
ill at ease; out of one’s element
I always feel ill at ease when I meet his wife.
When it comes to poetry, I’m out of my element.не в своем уме
out of one’s head; off one’s head/rocker/nut
He must be out of his head to go swimming on such a cold day.
Spending that much on a dress! She must be off her rocker.не в форме
out of sorts/form; below par; under the weather
The horse is out of form; it’s not likely to win the race.
I was feeling a little below par this morning.
He was tired and a bit under the weather.не верить своим глазам
cannot believe one’s eyes
When I saw her husband washing up the dishes, I couldn’t believe my eyes!не верить своим ушам
cannot believe one’s ears
I was shocked to learn that he had been fired, I couldn’t believe my ears.не видеть дальше собственного носа
cannot see beyond the end of one’s nose
It’s obvious to me, but she can’t see beyond the end of her nose.не все дома
not all there
Sometimes I think he is not all there.не давать ни отдыха ни срока (кому-л.)
keep someone’s nose to the grindstone; to keep someone on the trot
The new boss believes in hard work and keeps his workers’ noses to the grindstone all the time.
My wife keeps me on the trot.Не дай Бог!
God/heaven forbid!
I hope the car won’t break down. – God forbid!не за горами
(a)round the corner; close/near at hand
Spring is right around the corner.
The examinations are close at hand.не иметь ни малейшего представления (о чем-л.)
not to know the first thing about something
I’m afraid I don’t know the first thing about engines.не к месту
beside the point; out of place
Your observation is very interesting, but beside the point.
Her dress was very beautiful, but I thought it looked out of place.не мытьем, так катанием
by hook or by crook; by fair means or foul
I’ll get your brother to come, by hook or by crook.
He is determined to win by fair means or foul.не находить себе места
to have kittens
The boy didn’t get home last night and his mother was having kittens wondering what to do.не падать духом
to keep one’s chin up
When her husband left her, she had to keep her chin up for the sake of the children.не первой молодости
no spring chicken
She looks younger than she is, but she is no spring chicken.не по дням, а по часам
by leaps and bounds
The profits are increasing by leaps and bounds.не спускать глаз (с кого-л./чего-л.)
to keep an eye on someone/something
She asked me to keep an eye on her suitcase.не стесняться в выражениях
not to mince one’s words
She told him emphatically not to come again, she didn’t mince her words.не терять головы
to keep one’s head; to keep a level head
She kept her head when she found that the house was on fire.
Hugh is known for his ability to keep a level head in every situation.не чувствовать под собой ног (от счастья и т. п.)
to walk on air; to be beside oneself
John has been walking on air since he got the job.
The children were beside themselves on the last day of school.не шутка
no joke; no laughing matter
It was no joke when my car broke down in the middle of the busy motorway.
The loss of a passport is no laughing matter.невооруженным глазом
with the naked eye
These stars are too far away to be seen with the naked eye.нем как рыба (as) silent as the grave
нести вздор
to talk through one’s hat
You’re talking through your hat. I don’t believe you.нести свой крест
to bear one’s cross
Nobody could help him. He just had to bear his cross.нестись сломя голову
to break one’s neck
I broke my neck trying to get there in time to meet you.ни в грош не ставить (кого-л./что-л.)
to set little store by someone/something
Jane sets little store by her husband’s opinion.ни в жизнь
not on your life
Will you marry her? – Not on your life!ни в одном глазу
(as) sober as a judge
All my friends were drunk, but I was sober as a judge.ни за какие коврижки
not for love or money; not for all the tea in China
I won’t do it for love or money.
I wouldn’t go back there for all tea in China.ни рыба ни мясо
neither fish nor fowl
It tasted of neither fish nor fowl.ни с того ни с сего
without rhyme or reason
